West Brookfield family suffers apparent carbon monoxide poisoning

WEST BROOKFIELD - A family of five was taken to Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware after apparently suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning at their residence at 51 Ware St., a fire department spokesman said.

Firefighters were called to the home shortly after noon after all the residents reported feeling ill and called for assistance. When firefighters arrived, all five were outside the house and conscious, including a child who was four or five years old and a grandmother who owns the home, according to the fire spokesman. West Brookfield and Warren ambulances took the five to the hospital, but information about their conditions was not available this afternoon.

Firefighters were able to detect high levels of carbon monoxide in the home and the providers of oil and propane for the residence had been called to the scene, but the source of the carbon monoxide had not been determined, fire officials said. Several cats at the house appeared to be unharmed, he said.

Once the carbon monoxide was detected, firefighters ventilated the house and remained on scene for about two hours, he said.